LIVE FROM THE LOCAL STATION. THIS CLAY COUNTY TEEN WHO MADE NATIONAL NEWS IN HER PART OF THE REPORTED TORTURE AND KILLING OF THIS TORTOISE IS NOW FACING NEW CHARGES OF COMMITTING A SEX CRIME. TONIGHT, A LOCAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS QUESTIONING THE PUBLICITY THE NEW CASE IS RECEIVING. TYPICALLY WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS TREATED AS A JUVENILE WOORKS, WE DON'T FIND OUT THAT INFORMATION. IT'S HERE IN THIS ARREST REPORT. THE ARREST REPORT SAYS 18-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER GREEN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AROUND 3:30 THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS HER MUG SHOT FROM HER ARREST IN THE ANIMAL ABUSE CASE. TONIGHT, SHE IS ALSO CHARGED WITH LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS BATTERY, SEXUAL ACTIVITY ABOUT A JUVENILE OLDER THAN 12 BUT YOUNGER THAN 16. AND SHE'S CHARGED AS A JUVENILE. CHANNEL 4 SCOTT JOHNSON HAS BEEN DIGGING DEEPER INTO THIS CASE. HE IS JOINING US NOW LIVE FROM ORANGE PARK WITH WHAT HE HAS LEARNED. IS GREEN STILL IN CUSTODY? YEAH, SHE IS STILL IN CUSTODY. LAST CHECK SHE WAS SERVED WITH WARRANT FOR AN ARREST ON THESE NEW CHARGES WHILE IN JAIL FOR THOSE CHARGES OF ANIMAL ABUSE AGAINST WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GOPHER TORTOISE THAT MADE SO MANY HEADLINES. NOW SHE IS FACING NEW CHARGES. WE TALKED TO A LOCAL ATTORNEY SURPRISED BY HOW MANY DETAILS WE RECEIVED. MORE CHARGES FOR THE 18-YEAR-OLD WHO IS ALREADY IN JAIL FOR ALLEGEDLY BRUTALIZING AND KILLING A GOPHER TORTOISE. THEE CHARGES ARE FOR SOMETHING INVESTIGATORS SAY JENNIFER GREEN DID LAST MONTH WHILE SHE WAS STILL 17 YEARS OL. OLD. LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS BATTERY. ACCORDING TO THE ARREST REPORT, GREEN MADE FRIENDS WITH A YOUNG BOY THEN HAD SEXUAL CONTACT WITH HIM. THIS INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED JUST 7 DAYS BEFORE GREEN TURNED 18. LOCAL ATTORNEY GENE NICKELS WHO IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THIS CASE SAYS HE IS SURPRISED WE ARE HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT HE'S CHARGES BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED BEFORE GREEN BECAME A LEGAL ADULT. IT'S UNUSUAL THAT THEY ARE RELEASING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH WE NOW KNOW THAT SHE'S AN ADULT FOR THE PURPOSES OF CRIMINAL CHARGE. THIS INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS A MINOR. AS OF NOW, UNLESS THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S DIRECT FILED HER, SHE SHOULD BE CHARGED AS A MINOR. THEREFORE, I'M SURPRISED THAT ANYBODY IS RELEASING ANY INFORMATION ON THIS WHATSOEVER. I STOPPED BY THE ADDRESS OF GREEN'S PARENTS LISTED ON THE REPORT, NO ONE WAS THERE. NEIGHBORS DIDN'T WANT TO GO ON CAMERA. THEY TELL ME GREEN WAS ADOPTED FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. THE ARREST REPORT LISTS HER PLACE OF BIRTH AS ROMANIA. NEWS 4 JAX SPOKE TO THIS MAN WHO SAYS HE COUNCILLED JENNIFER GREEN AT A NOW-CLOSED HOME FOR TROUBLES TEENS. HE TOLD US SHE WOULD DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO FIT IN. SHE LOOKING TO PLEASE OTHERS AND BE FRIENDS. SHE IS LOOKING FOR A FRIEND. THE REPORT DIDN'T MENTION THE AGE OF BOY INVOLVED IN THE ALLEGED INCIDENT BUT NICKELS DID SAY HIS AGE COULD PLAY A ROLE IN HOW THE COURT DEALS WITH GREEN'S LEWD LASCIVIOUS BATTERY CHARGES. IF IT IS A CHILD YOUNGER THAN 16. ROMEO AND JULIETTE STATUTES THAT APPLY WHEN TWO YOUNG PEOPLE, TEENAGE PEOPLE, COMMIT AN ACT THEY SHOULDN'T BE COMMITTING. WE KNOW THE PENALTIES BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN YOU ARE OLDER IF THE VICTIM IS YOUNGER. JENNIFER GREEN'S NEST COURT DATE FOR THE KILLING OF THE TORTOISE IS AUGUST 27TH. NOW, SHE IS FACING UP TO FIVE YEARS FOR THE ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE AND UP TO 60 DAYS FOR THE EXTRA MISDEMEANOR BECAUSE THE TORTOISE WAS A THREATENED SPECIES. AS FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN JUNE FOR THE LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS BATTERY, WE MAY NOT FIND OUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT HAPPENS THERE AS LONG AS IT IS PROSECUTED AS A JUVENILE. LIVE TONIGHT, SCOTT JOHNSON, CHANNEL 4 THE LOCAL STATION. I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO THE FAMILY. NO ONE KNEW MUCH ABOUT IT. MOST PEOPLE I TALKED TO HAD NO IDEA THAT SHE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS CASE WHERE THE TORTOISE WAS KILLED WHICH MADE A LOT OF HEADLINES HERE AROUND ORANGE PARK. A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOCKED BY THAT. NO ONE SAID THEY KNEW ANYTHING OTHER THAN HER HISTORY OF BEING ADOPTED. BACK TO YOU.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -

An 18-year-old girl who was arrested earlier this month on animal abuse charges after a video appeared to show her and a younger girl torturing a tortoise, is now facing a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a younger child.

According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office arrest report, Jennifer Greene "made friends" with a younger boy and then had sexual contact with him. The incident allegedly occurred in June, seven days before Greene turned 18.

The report says the younger victim and Greene began playing hide-and-seek in a backyard. The victim told deputies he initiated the sexual activity and she complied.

Quick Clicks

Greene was already facing a felony cruelty to animals, a third-degree felony, and taking, harassing, harming or killing a gopher tortoise, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Earlier in the month, Greene and Danielle Dionne, 15, posted a video showing the tortoise being lit on fire, thrown on the concrete and being stomped on until it died. The video went viral on Facebook.

Local 6 sister station WJXT-TV reached out to local attorney Gene Nichols, who is not affiliated with the case, but gave some insight into the new charges against Greene. Nichols told News4Jax that he was surprised that we're hearing so much about the charges because the incident happened before she was a legal adult.

"It's unusual that they're releasing any information about it. Even though we now know she's an adult for purposes of criminal charge, this incident allegedly happened while she was a minor," said Nichols. "As of now, unless the State Attorney's Office has direct filed her, she should be charged as a minor. Therefore I'm surprised that anybody is releasing any information on this whatsoever."

WJXT-TV's Scott Johnson went to the address listed for Greene's parents in Orange Park, but no one was home. Neighbors in the area didn't want to go on camera, but said Greene was adopted from another country and the arrest report lists her place of birth as Romania.

On Sunday, WJXT-TV spoke with Jeff Econom, who said he counseled Greene at a home for troubled teens. Econom said Green came from a Romanian orphanage and said she would do just about anything to fit in.

"She's just looking to please others and be friends. She's just looking for a friend and whatever it takes to be that friend. I hate to say it, it's almost borderline desperate for a friend," Econom said Sunday.

The arrest report didn't list the age of the boy involved in the alleged incident, but Nichols said his age could play a role in how the court deals with Green's lewd and lascivious battery charge. If the person is 16 or over the charges may not be as severe, but if it's a child younger than that, the punishment could be more harsh.

"There are certain statutes, Romeo and Juliet statutes apply when two teenage people commit an act that they shouldn't be committing. We know the penalties become more severe when you are older if the victim is younger," said Nichols.

The arrest report also said Green would have a juvenile detention hearing within the next 24 hours, and since it's being handled in Juvenile Court, WJXT-TV will likely not get any details as to what happens in court Thursday.

Copyright 2014 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of clickorlando.com, WKMG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum (Please note the 'Flag' button). By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms Of service

Today's Clickers

Snow and sub-freezing temperatures are no reason to hibernate. Adopt a new winter sport this year and to get outside for your exercise! Use our interactive calculator to figure out how much it will cost to get outfitted for these cold-weather sports.